Chelsea manager Emma Hayes said player-to-player relationships within the same team are “inappropriate” because they present extra challenges to manage, although she acknowledged that “we’re dealing with human beings.”
Hayes is in her last season at Chelsea before she takes over the United States women’s national team in June when it is expected she will lead the side for the first time in a pair of friendly matches against South Korea.
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Speaking at a news conference before this weekend’s game against Arsenal, Hayes was asked about player safeguards after widespread reports in the British media that Leicester women’s manager coach Willie Kirk is being investigated by the club following an allegation of a player-coach relationship.
“We have to have safeguarding, make sure that’s it’s accessible for each and every club to protect players,” Hayes said.
“Player-coach relationships, they’re inappropriate, player-to-player relationships are inappropriate.
“But we have to look at it in the context of where the game has come from, and say ‘look we’re in a professional era now’ where the expectations in place for players and coaches is…
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